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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a "big agreement" floated by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which Trump said "might involve all of Europe," could be dangerous.
"Between us, for me it’s not simple, and it can be dangerous," Zelenskyy told CNN in an interview excerpt published Friday, when asked what he knew about the framework.
Zelenskyy said he did not know many details of the possible new security system and that Russia had shown no willingness to end the war.
"We didn’t see yet any kind of demonstration and signals from Russian side that they are ready to do something. That’s why it’s dangerous," he said.
Zelenskyy said that when Russia does not want to discuss a settlement, it seeks to open dialogue on a new security architecture in Europe, which he called dangerous for all of Europe, and more so for the EU than for Ukraine.
"That is dangerous, first and foremost for the European Union, because Ukraine is not yet a member of the bloc and is only moving toward membership," he said.
"We don’t want to have Yalta, Yalta 2. We are not ready for such a format. We don’t want to be divided by Russia," Zelenskyy said, referring to the 1945 conference where Allied powers discussed Europe’s postwar order.
"Sovereignty and territorial integrity are key issues for any democratic country," he said, adding that negotiations to end the war must come first, followed by talks on postwar security guarantees.
Zelenskyy said some proposals under discussion were "useful and very important," and backed a ceasefire followed by de-escalation.
Trump said Thursday after meeting Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House: "It’s going to be an agreement, it’s going to be a big agreement. It’s going to involve more than Ukraine, and I could even say it might involve all of Europe. It’s going to be a big, beautiful agreement, and everyone’s going to be thrilled."
"It is a bloodbath, and it has to end," Trump said, adding, "I think we’re going to get it ended pretty soon, very soon, maybe."
Zelenskyy held talks with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Nov. 5 to prepare for U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled next week in Abu Dhabi.
European officials have also pushed back on U.S. plans for a new security framework with Russia, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas saying, "Putin does not have a veto over European security." Zelenskyy’s warning adds Kyiv’s voice to concerns over Trump’s big agreement.
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